Adjustable book-rest.



Patented nec. I9, 1899.

C. W. DAVIS L H. M HALL. ADJUSTABLE BOUK REST.

(Application filed Sept. 20, 1899 (No Model.)

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,TED STATES 'PATENT OFFCE CHARLES IV, DAVIS AND HUGH M. HALL, OF COLUMBIA, MISSOURI.

ADJUSTABLE BOOK-REST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters `Patent No. 639,362, dated December 19, 1899. l Application filed September 20, 1899. 'Serial No. 731,082. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES W. DAvIs and HUGH M. HALL, citizens of the United States, residing at Columbia, in the county of Boone and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Adjustable Book-Rest, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to book-rests in general, and more particularly to portable bookrests; and it has for its object to provide a device of this nature which may be moved readily from place to place and which, moreover, may be adjusted to hold the book at various angles and in which the book-holding portion may be rotated and fixed with respect to the base.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification and in which like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a rear perspective of the complete device. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section taken diametrically of the base and with the book-holding element lying horizontal.

Referring now to, the drawings, 5 represents a preferably circular base provided with supporting-casters 6 and having an axial tubular socket 7, in which is rotatably mounted the lower end of a shaft 8, having a squared upper portion which is bifurcated to form arms 9 and 10, the lower end of the squared portion forming a shoulder which rests upon the upper end of the tubular socket. In connection with this supporting portion of the device is a book-holding element 11, having the shape of the back of a book,` as shown, and centrally of which is fixed to the lower side a perforated ear 12, which is disposed between the arms 9 and 10 and pivotally "connected therewith through the. medium of a rivet 13. At opposite sides of the ear 12 are 'connected the ends of a notched segment 14., the periphery' of which is adapted to travel adjacent the base of the bifurcating slot of the shaft 7, and in which slot said segment is adapted for oscillation.

In order to hold the book-supporting element at different points of its adjustment upon the pivot 13, a latch 16 is pivotally mounted upon a projection 17 of the arm 10 through the medium of a collar 18, inclosing and fixed to the latch, the engaging end of form, as shown, and itsoutwardly-extending upper end 2O is pivotally connected at its outer end with a lever 22, having a lug 23, pivoted to an ear 24 upon the book-holder 11. This lever 22 is provided with a handle, as shown,through the medium of which the lever may be operated to move the latch upon its pivot and throw its engaging end'into or out of engagement with the notches of the segment 14, thus holding the book-holder against tilting at times and also permitting its ad` justment when desired. In order to support the outer edges of the book-holding element 11, the braces 25 and 26 are secured at their outer ends to the under side of said element and adjacent its outer edges, said braces converging downwardly and being preferably formed integral and having fixed to their meeting portions ears 27 and 28, in which are journaled rollers 29, adapted to bear upon the upper surface of the support 5. The element 11 having more or less elasticity wilhtend to bend .under the weight of the book and will be supported by these braces.

By the pivotal mounting of the shaft 8 within the tubular socket 7 a rotary movement of the element 11 is permitted, and in order to hold the shaft at different points of its rotation a lateral tubular extension 30 is `formed upon the socket 7, below the base 5,

and is provided with internal threads, with which is engaged the screw at the end of a shaft 3l, extending radially beneath the basel and projecting beyond the outer edge thereof, where it is provided with a crank 32.. This shaft 31 is journaled in a bearing 33 in the form of a hanger upon the under surface of the base. Thus by operation of the crank 32 the shaft 3l may be moved longitudinally to engage the surface of the shaft 8 and hold it against rotation and may as readilyl be oper ated in a reverse direction to permit its rota= tion and enable corresponding adjustment of the book-holding element.

It wilLot course be understood that in practice the shaft 7 may be of any desired height to raise the book to any desired elevation and that the specific construction shown may be varied and any desired proportions and ma- IOO terials used without departing from the spirit of the invention.

That is claimed isl. In a book-support, the combination with a base having a bearing extending above and below the base, of a bifurcated shaft rotatably mounted in the bearing, a threaded tubular projection upon the bearing below the base, a screwshaft engaging the threads and adapted to impinge the shaft to hold it against rotation, a book-holding element pivotally connected with the bifurcations of the shaft, means for holding the book-holding element at various angles to the shaft, and supports connected with the book-holder and adapted to rest upon the base.

2. A book-support, comprising a base having a tubular socket extending above and be- 10W the base, a bifureated shaft journaled in the socket, a screw-shaft entering` the socket below the base and adapted to engage the Iirst-named shaft to hold it against rotation, a book-holder pivotally connected with the bifurcated shaft, anotched segment mounted upon the book-holder and adapted for oscillation between the bifurcations of the shaft, a latch comprising alever mounted upon the book-holder and adapted for engagement with the notches of the segment to hold it against oscillation, and supports connected with the book-holder and adapted to rest upon the base.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own We have hereto afiiXed our signatures in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES WV. DAVIS. HUGH M. HALL.

Witnesses:

II. W. MORGAN, F. A. DUNCAN. 

